Mum stole €500 groceries to feed her children

A woman stole €500 of groceries to feed herself and her children as she had no money to pay for the items, Blanchardstown District Court has heard

A WOMAN stole €500 of groceries to feed herself and her children as she had no money to pay for the items, Blanchardstown District Court has heard.

Kathleen McDonnell (25), who is on social welfare and has two young children, has been convicted and fined €100 after she pleaded guilty to the theft of the groceries from Supervalu at Finglas Mall on October 2, 2014.

Garda Adrian O'Reilly gave evidence that at 6.30pm he received a call from security at the shopping centre to say a female had past all points of payment with a trolley full of groceries.

He said on viewing CCTV footage he recognised McDonnell and spoke to her over the phone. He said he arrested her two months after the incident.

He said McDonnell, of Plunkett Road, Finglas West, Dublin 11, has no previous convictions and co-operated with gardai.

McDonnell's solicitor said a lack of money was the motivation for the theft and that she took the items for her own personal use.

"She is a lone parent who is on social welfare and she is trying to look after her young children herself," the solicitor said.

As the items were not recovered, Judge David McHugh convicted her and gave her eight months to pay the fine.